Spicy Ranch Chex mix is always a crowd-pleaser. For any of the big holidays, we make sure to make extra. Obviously none of it goes to waste! And it never fails, our friends start dropping hints about us making another big batch.
Rather than measuring out the Chex Cereal, and other add ins, we pretty much use the entire boxes. Clearly we had to adjust the recipe to account for such huge amounts of cereal, pretzels, nuts and more!
Next, we use plenty of Franks Red Hot Sauce and Hidden Valley Ranch! With this in mind, you know we had to spice up the add ins too! In order to keep the flavors lively, we use Gardetto special request rye chips.
Ingredients for Sauce for Spicy Ranch Chex Mix
- Butter: Adds richness and helps coat all the dry ingredients evenly.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Brings a deep, tangy umami flavor to balance the heat.
- Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce (e.g., Frank’s): Provides the spicy kick that defines this mix.
- Dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning: Infuses a tangy, herby flavor that pairs perfectly with the spice.
- Garlic Granules/Powder: Adds a savory depth and enhances the overall seasoning profile.
- Cajun Spice: Introduces a bold, smoky, and slightly sweet heat for complexity.
- Cayenne Pepper: Elevates the spice level for those who love extra heat.
Ingredients for Dry Portion
- Rice Chex Cereal: Light and crispy, ideal for soaking up the flavorful sauce.
- Corn Chex Cereal: Provides a different texture and a slightly sweet contrast.
- Wheat Chex Cereal: Hearty and robust, adds variety and crunch.
- Mini Pretzels: Adds a salty, crunchy element that complements the mix.
- Salted Peanuts: Brings a savory nuttiness and satisfying texture.
- White Cheddar Cheese-Its: Adds a cheesy burst of flavor.
- Zesty Ranch Cheese-It Grooves: Enhances the ranch flavor and adds extra crunch.
- Gardettos Rye Chips: Provides a bold, savory crunch with a unique flavor.
- Roasted Cashews: Lends a buttery richness and a slightly sweet contrast.
This combination of ingredients balances spice, texture, and flavor, making the mix irresistible. Each component plays a key role in creating the perfect snack for any occasion!
Why you will love this Spicy Ranch Chex Mix recipe:
- Bold Flavor Combo: The combination of tangy ranch seasoning, spicy hot sauce, and buttery richness creates an addictive snack that hits every taste note—savory, spicy, and salty.
- Perfect for Crowds: It’s easy to make a large batch, making it ideal for parties, game days, or holiday gatherings. Everyone loves a flavorful, crunchy snack that’s ready to share
- Customizable and Simple: With a flexible base of Chex cereal, pretzels, and nuts, you can easily tweak the ingredients to suit dietary needs or personal preferences. Plus, the recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require fancy equipment
Servings: 40 servings
Calories: 612kcal
Equipment
- 4 sheet pans or disposable pans
- 1 pot
- 1 Spatula
- large bowls
Ingredients
Ingredients for sauce for Spicy Ranch Chex Mix:
- 4 sticks butter
- 1 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 16 ounces Buffalo wing hot sauce We use Franks.
- 1 cup dry ranch dressing seasoning 4 envelopes Hidden Valley Ranch
- 2 tablespoons garlic granules garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Cajun Spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne more if you want it super spicy!
Ingredients for the dry portion:
- 12 ounce 1 box rice chex cereal
- 12 ounce 1 box corn chex cereal
- 14 ounce 1 box wheat chex cereal
- 16 ounce bag mini pretzels
- 32 ounce salted peanuts
- 12.4 ounce white cheddar cheese-its
- 11.4 ounce zesty ranch cheese-it grooves
- 28 ounce Gardettos special request rye chips 2 bags
- 1 lb roasted cashews
Instructions
Step 1:
- Preheat oven to 250 F
- If you have a double oven, pre heat both!
- Add the butter to a pan and allow to melt slowly over a low heat.4 sticks butter
- Add in the Worcestershire sauce and Buffalo wing hot sauce.1 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce, 16 ounces Buffalo wing hot sauce
- Add in the Ranch Dressing powder, garlic, and blackened cajun spice.2 tablespoons garlic granules, 2 tablespoons Cajun Spice, 1 cup dry ranch dressing seasoning
- Stir with wooden spoon, or whisk till mixed up. Allow to simmer, while preparing the rest.
- Step 2:
- Using 2 or 3 large bowls, start to add in the boxes of chex cereal. Mix them up.
- Divide the rest of the dry ingredients between the bowls and mix each time, by gently scooping with hands underneath and bringing mixture to the top.
- Using a half cup measuring cup drizzle the warm mixture over each pan
- Continue to do so until evenly distributed
- Allow mixture to cool enough to be able to mix with hands
- Use hands to make sure all the dry ingredients are pulled up from bottom and sides so that all is coated with seasoning wet mixture
Step 3:
- Place pans in oven
- Set timer for 15 minutes
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes
- Allow to cool
- Store chex mix in tins, or mason jars or plastic bags
Nutrition
Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 612kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 1661mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1011IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 11mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
And if you love a savory crunchy snack, give these Chili Lime Ranch Crackers a try!
[…] like with our SPICY RANCH CHEX MIX, we like to make a BIG BATCH of puppy chow. This way we use up all the Chex cereal, and have […]